TGW Chapter 13 Part 4

The emergency meeting lasted for a full day.

The diplomatic status of the Peroh Confederation was set at the level of "High," which is just below the highest status of "Special." Considering there had been almost no prior exchange between the desert tribes and the Empire, this was an exceptional decision.

The treatment of the Confederation was most strongly supported by Duke Schultz’s proposal, as everyone assumed it reflected the Emperor’s will.

The ceremony to bestow a branch of the sacred tree, combined with a grand banquet to welcome the envoys, was scheduled to take place four days later in the palace’s banquet hall. The ceremonial department, tasked with organizing a large-scale banquet in just a few days, was in a rush to make all the necessary preparations.

News of the banquet quickly spread among the nobles. The nobles, who thought there would be no royal parties for a while following the Silver King's engagement, were pleased.

Although there wasn’t enough time to order new dresses, the ladies headed to the dressmakers to acquire unique accessories.

On the day of the bestowal ceremony, Sienna was busy getting ready in the morning to attend the afternoon event. Beth was directing the bustling maids.

Unlike usual, there wasn’t time to have three dresses made and choose one. Beth selected one of the two dresses that had been prepared for the engagement ceremony but hadn’t been worn.

The dress was purple. Due to its strong impression, it was deemed unsuitable for the engagement ceremony.

The bodice and waist were embroidered with floral patterns, and real flower petals were sewn around them. Because this task couldn’t be done in advance, the petals had to be sewn on individually when Sienna wore the dress. This work made today’s preparations particularly lengthy.

“You look beautiful, Your Highness.”

Beth smiled contentedly.

“Are we done?”

“Yes, it was quite an effort. Are you feeling alright?”

“I’m exhausted before I’ve even set foot at the party.”

Beth chuckled at Sienna’s grumbling. Sienna’s complaints were special because she didn’t make them to just anyone.

“Rest for a moment before you go out. I’ll ask Emma to bring some tea—”

Beth paused. She had momentarily forgotten that Emma was not in the palace.

“Emma is probably enjoying herself right now.”

“Yes, she must be.”

At that very moment, Emma was caught up in the crowd that had gathered on the street, watching the colorful parade of the Confederation’s envoys in awe.

For those who had rarely ventured beyond the capital, the culture of the desert people was exotic. Even the unfamiliar animals leading the procession attracted attention.

“What on earth is that animal?”

“Is it sick? Look at those enormous humps on its back.”

“It’s huge. I wonder if it’s fierce?”

“Wow! Is all that gold?”

Dozens of camels walked slowly in a line, their backs adorned with glittering decorations made of gold and jewels. Behind them walked sturdy men carrying silver trays piled high with treasures.

“There must be a lot of gold buried in the desert sand.”

“They say if you dig in the desert, you’ll find gold.”

Until then, the desert was known as a barren land full of useless sand and dangerous monsters. The people living there were also considered barbaric and brutal.

The magnificent procession adorned with dazzling jewels left a strong impression on the people. Slowly, a different perception of the desert began to spread from mouth to mouth.

The envoys’ procession entered through the wide-open main gates of the imperial palace. Following the directions of the imperial guards, they proceeded to the banquet hall deep inside the palace.

The banquet hall was already packed with attendees. Unlike other parties, the atmosphere was calm rather than lively.

“His Majesty, the Emperor, is entering!”

The chamberlain announced the Emperor's arrival, and shortly after, the Emperor entered the banquet hall. He crossed the hall and ascended the high dais where the throne was set.

At the same time, the large doors of the banquet hall that opened to the outside swung wide open. Everyone’s gaze turned towards the entrance.

Men wearing turbans stood at the forefront. Their clothing was of plain color and design, but the unique knotted cords decorating their sleeves and waists added a touch of elegance.

Their skin was darker than that of the imperial citizens, as were their eyes. Judging by their similar height to the nearby guards, they were quite tall. Following them were men carrying silver trays; their attire was much simpler, suggesting they were of lower status.

The men poured the gold and jewels from the trays onto one side of the banquet hall. The nobles watched, dumbfounded, as a small mountain of treasures formed in the hall.

“What on earth…?”

“What a bizarre display.”

The nobles did not look pleased. Cheering openly for gold was something only ignorant commoners would do. They were refined nobles who found such blatant displays of wealth to be vulgar.

The last to enter looked quite bizarre.

“Are those desert knights?”

“Their armor is a bit…”

The ladies openly expressed their distaste. It didn’t match the typical image of a “knight.”

The armor worn by knights at ceremonies was often more elaborate than a lady’s dress. Silver armor gleamed, adorned with intricate patterns crafted by skilled artisans. Feathers decorated the helmets. Specially made shoulder capes fluttered beautifully in the slightest breeze.

However, the armor worn by the desert knights was of a design never seen before. Dark and without any shine, it appeared roughly made, with bulges and protrusions that seemed unfinished. They looked more like a group of villains than knights fighting for justice.

People were so distracted by the appearance that they didn’t notice something unusual. Unlike the typical clanking sound of metal colliding when knights moved, these knights made no noise as they walked.

The turbaned man at the front bowed his head below the high throne.

“May the blessings of the heavens be with the master of the Empire. On behalf of the Ferro Confederation, I offer our greetings. I am Shiron Tuisa, the son of the great leader of the Tuisa Tribe and the King of the Confederation.”

A translator beside him conveyed his words.

“Welcome.”

“We thank you for your hospitality. According to our customs, it is a grave discourtesy to visit after receiving an invitation empty-handed. We could not come to this honored occasion to meet Your Majesty without a gift, so we have prepared a humble offering.”

The Emperor glanced briefly at the pile of gold and jewels before nodding.

“You have shown sincerity. I will gladly accept the goodwill of the Confederation.”

“Before we, the Confederation, pledge our loyalty as vassals, we have a humble request.”

“What is it?”

“We are not accustomed to the customs of the Empire. Even the language is not something we have mastered, and we fear we may cause misunderstandings by making mistakes. Therefore, we wish to appoint someone to act as our head and mouth. Though he is not a citizen of the Confederation, we believe he will fulfill this role admirably. We are prepared to entrust him with full authority.”

“Not a citizen of the Confederation? Are you saying you are entrusting your country’s diplomatic authority to an outsider?”

“Though he is not one of us, we consider him a brother with whom we share blood. Thanks to him, a war that could have caused much bloodshed was averted, and the desert was unified.”

“A hero, indeed. Very well. Is he present here now?”

“Yes.”

Shiron Tuisa lifted his head and turned to look behind him. One of the men in the unusual armor stepped forward. Shiron unhesitatingly gave up his position to him. The man stepped forward and removed his helmet.

Revealed beneath the armor was jet-black hair. He placed a hand on his chest and bent one knee in a bow.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

In the now-silent banquet hall, only the man's low voice could be heard.

“Rise and lift your head.”

Standing diagonally from the throne, Sienna had a clear view of the man’s face as he raised his head.

‘Kuhn…’

Her hands clenched tightly around her dress.

The Emperor carefully observed the man’s face as he lifted his head.

“It is clear you are not from the desert. What is your name?”

“I am Kuhn Raad.”

Interest sparkled in the Emperor’s eyes.

“That name sounds familiar. I have heard an amusing story recently. Are you associated with the Raad Trading Company?”

“It is a family business that has been passed down through generations, Your Majesty.”

“Hm. Are you the head of the Raad Trading Company?”

The murmurs that had started when Kuhn mentioned his name turned into a loud buzz. The name “Kuhn Raad” had already spread throughout the social circles.

“Yes, I am. My family has long maintained close ties with the Empire and has established many bases here. Now that I have formed a good relationship with the Peroh Confederation, I wish to serve as a bridge to strengthen the bond between the Confederation and the Empire.”

“You have led a large organization without any disturbances at a young age and now represent a nation. You are an exceptional talent. What is your status in the desert?”

Shiron answered on his behalf.

“We regard him as a military leader. A military leader is eligible to become the chief of a tribe in the future. The chiefs of the three main tribes that form the Confederation take turns ascending to the throne.”

“Isn’t that the same as being a member of the royal family? If you were a citizen of the Confederation, it would be fine, but as an outsider holding such a position from the Confederation, there should be a balance with the Empire.”

The Emperor pondered for a moment. The murmuring had stopped. Everyone was holding their breath, watching the Emperor.

“To grant you a fief, you must first become a citizen of the Empire. However, it would be unreasonable to force the Confederation’s representative to become an imperial citizen. Therefore, I shall bestow upon you an honorary marquisate.”

There was a stir in the audience.

“Though it comes with no land, you will have diplomatic privileges equivalent to a duke since you are representing a vassal state. However, you will not share the privileges enjoyed by the Empire’s dukes within the Empire. The title can be passed down to your descendants, and there will be no penalty if it is relinquished in the future.”

It was a peculiar scene for the nobles watching. It seemed as if both the Confederation and the Empire were competing to offer him honors.

“I grant you the rank of marquis.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

The Empire’s only marquis had been created.

Everyone in attendance instinctively knew: that this man would soon take the social circles by storm. Depending on how the Ferro Confederation’s relationship with the Empire developed, he could even become a central figure in the political landscape.

Moreover, he was the head of the Rad Trading Company.

No one knew the exact wealth of the Rad Trading Company. It had branches in the best locations not just in the Empire but across the continent.

It was imperative to befriend him. He had no established alliances within the Empire yet, which meant the opportunity was open to everyone.

The people’s eyes burned with interest as they looked at Kuhn. Some also glanced back and forth between Kuhn and the Iron King, who was smiling at him. They strained to remember.

‘That man was surely there…’

Some recalled Kuhn attending Princess Sienna’s coming-of-age celebration and mingling with the Iron King.

After the simple ceremony of granting the title, the bestowal of the sacred tree’s branch proceeded in a solemn atmosphere.

Sienna watched until the bestowal ceremony ended, then left the banquet hall. She had no desire to enjoy the party.

 

***

 

A teacup appeared before her eyes. She raised it to her lips, but she couldn’t taste anything.

—This is a dream.

It wasn’t a welcome realization. Sienna felt a wave of weariness wash over her.

The Emperor raised his head. Seated across from him was the middle-aged Kuhn. He overlapped with the image of him standing confidently before the Emperor at the banquet earlier.

“Do you still drink your tea sweet?”

Kuhn asked as he set his teacup down.

“Old tastes don’t change so easily.”

“Drinking it too sweet isn’t good for your health.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“I heard you fainted. Are you alright?”

“I am fine.”

“My subordinates acted rudely. I apologize. I will make sure they are severely punished.”

“That won’t be necessary. It’s not as if I am unaware of Sir Kali’s rash temperament. It seems Sir Kali is still busy cleaning up after his brother’s mistakes, just as always.”

“Yes, just as always. The two of them will probably be like that until they die.”

Sienna saw his lips curl slightly. She sensed he was very fond of the Kali brothers.

“Sky King.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think I chose to meet you today of all days?”

“How could I possibly know Your Majesty’s intentions?”

“Today is the first and last.”

Kuhn’s eyebrows twitched.

“After today, I will never see you again.”

Time seemed to stretch as they stared at each other in silence. Looking at Kuhn through the Emperor’s eyes, Sienna felt a slight pang of sadness. His obsidian-like eyes were cold and unyielding. She couldn’t detect any hint of emotion.

“So, Sky King. Let’s be honest today.”

“About what?”

“Anything. Since it’s the last time, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. Tomorrow morning, when I wake up, I will forget everything we discussed today. I promise you that much. Isn’t that right?”

A faint smile appeared on Kuhn’s otherwise expressionless face.

“I’ll grant you that. When you left to become Emperor, you told me you would never regret it and never look back. You’ve kept your word thoroughly.”

He spoke politely, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

“Let’s not dwell on that. It cannot be undone anyway.”

“Can’t it be undone?”

“No, it can’t.”

“I see... I understand.”

Kuhn stood up.

“Are you leaving?”

The Emperor asked hastily. Kuhn looked at the Emperor for a moment, sighed softly, and sat back down.

“You said to be honest. Fine. I will forget everything I hear today by tomorrow.”

He tapped the teacup with his fingertips.

“Wouldn’t wine be better than tea?”

The Emperor chuckled lightly and called for a maid. A short while later, a maid brought a bottle of wine.

“Wine?”

Kuhn picked up the wine bottle with a look of mild disapproval, inspecting it before saying,

“Well, wine is still alcohol.”

He opened the bottle and poured it, filling two glasses halfway. The Emperor took a sip from his glass, then held it in his hand, swirling it gently.

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask.”

“Yes.”

“Before talks of marriage between you and me began, I heard you had a lover.”

—A lover…?

Sienna was startled, having been comparing the middle-aged Kuhn she saw through the Emperor’s eyes with the younger Kuhn.

“I also heard she died. Was my mother involved in her death?”

“No. It was an accident.”

“Then was my engagement being broken off unrelated to you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re saying it was all a coincidence?”

“Yes. The timing coincided so perfectly that it’s hard to believe, but it was all a coincidence. I also found it suspicious at one point and investigated thoroughly.”

“A coincidence… It was just a coincidence.”

The Emperor muttered despondently.

“Which noble family was she from?”

“She was not a noblewoman as you think. She was a woman born and raised in the desert.”

“If your lover hadn’t died, would you still have proceeded with the marriage to me?”

“…No, I would not have.”

“When the previous Emperor ordered our marriage, why did you not refuse? If you had refused, the former Emperor could never have forced it.”

Kuhn remained silent for a while. As if recalling the past, a wistful look briefly crossed his eyes.

“The former Emperor was my friend. But there were things I had to protect that took precedence over friendship. So, I couldn’t share in the pain he felt as he lost his loved ones one by one. I always felt guilty about that. That’s why I couldn’t refuse his request.”

“It wasn’t an order... it was a request?”

“Your Majesty, the former Emperor needed someone to blame, but he wasn’t cruel by nature. Marrying you to me wasn’t only about stripping you of your right to succession. The former Emperor was also trying to protect you.”

“Protect me? From whom?”

“From the hatred he harbored within himself.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The former Emperor knew very well that I would protect those under my care. He hated you, but at the same time, he wanted to protect you. Because he was very lonely, and you were the only family he had left.”

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